Switch-lever lock



Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PTEN'i OFFlCE.

SWITCILLEVER LUCK.

Application filed April 22, 1924.

To all 107mm t may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. Konsoi-r and GEORGE W. HUEY, each a citizen ol the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Lever Locks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to locking devices for railway switches and has particular reference to an automatic locking means tor the hand operated switch lever, the principal object being to provide simple means ot this characterwhich will insure the locking of the switch even though the operating` lever has unintentionally been leftbut partly closed.

Other objects and advantages ot the invention will appear in the further description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ot our iinproved lock as applied to a railway switch stand;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the central portion of the loc-k and theswitch stand;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the interior of the lock with the cover removed; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modiiied bolt or pawl for the lock.

1 represents the upper portion ot a common switch stand having the arcuately shaped top 2 thereupon through which the target stern or shaft 3 extends vertically, and in which it is rotatable. Fixed to the shaft 3 just above the top of the stand is the usual quadrant l to which the operating lever 5 is pivotally attached as at 6, there being notches 7 provided in the circumferential edge ot the stand top 2 for the reception of the lever 5 when the quadrant is turned so that said lever will register with one of the notches, this being common in railway switch construction.

Directly above the pivotal connection of the quadrant and lever we have installed a housing 8 in which the improved locking device is contained, and this housing has re- Serial No. 708,277.

inovably attached thereto the cover 9 for access to the interior thereof. Within this housing is pivotally mounted the dog 10, as at 11, the free end of which has a notch 12 formed therein for engagement with the notch 13 in the short end of the lever 5.

A metal strap 14 is superimposed upon the paul under which the usual switch key 15 may be inserted, a suitable key hole 16 being provided in the side of the housing for such purpose. Just over the pivotal connection 11 ot the paul 10 is a stop 17 pret'- erably formed integral with one side wall ot the housing, and this stop is so inclined at its `forward end as at 18 to receive the web ot the key 15 when the key is turned beyond vertical position in the raising of the paul 10, and where, it desired, the key may be allowed to remain and prevent the lever trom becoming locked when such condition is desired, as, for example, in repeated switching.

The strap 14 is so notched as at 19 to avoid contact with the stop 17 when raised as clearly seen in Figure 3 of the drawing.

lt will be noted that the notched relation ot the ends ot the paul 10 and lever 5 is such that even when the lever 5 is raised at an angle, as shown in dotted lines at 20 in Figure 2, it cannot thereafter be raised for turning ot the switch shaft without the lifting of the paul 10; thus providing against possible turning oi the switch even though the lever 5 is not fully depressed in one of the notches 7.

ln Figure 4 we have shown a modified form of paul 21, it being shaped quite similar to the paul 10 and may be installed in place of said paul, it having an upstanding operating handle 22 which extends somewhat. above the housing 8 when installed therein: it being understood that the cover 9 must be dispensed with when such installation is being employed, and this modiiication is particularly adapted tor use in switching yards or the like where permanent lock ing is not desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

The combination with a pivotally mounted switch operating lever ot the character described having a stepped shorter terminal,

ggg 1,517,641

of a normally horizontally disposed pivotally mounted dog having a stepped termina] for cooperative engagementwith the stepped terminal oi the lever, and means whereby the dog may be manually raised for unlocking engagement with the lever.

In testimony whereof We hereunto aix our signatures in the presence of two wit'- nesses.

WILLIAM E. KOR-SCH. GEORGE W. HUEY. l/itnesses S. C. BRONS/0N, S. GEO. STEVENS. 

